IEC Motor Starters for Industrial Compactors

What this page covers

IEC motor starters are sized by current rating in amps (rather than NEMA's size categories). The most common IEC contactors for compactor service are rated 9A, 12A, 18A, 25A, 32A, and 40A — covering the inrush and continuous current ranges for 5-25HP motors at standard voltages.

IEC starters are physically smaller than equivalent NEMA starters and cost less, which is why they've become the global industrial standard. Major brands (Schneider TeSys, Siemens Sirius, ABB AF, Allen Bradley 100-C) all manufacture IEC starters; PRT stocks compatible replacements for all common compactor applications.

How to choose

Match by current rating in amps (not NEMA size), control coil voltage (typically 24V DC or 120V AC for modern compactors), and thermal overload current setting (set to the motor's full-load amps).

IEC starters are not directly interchangeable with NEMA — different mounting pattern, different terminal layout, different overload format. If you're converting from NEMA to IEC, plan for a control-panel rebuild.

IEC starter ratings

• 9A IEC contactorFor motors up to 4HP at 480V — small stationary commercial compactors.
• 12A IEC contactorUp to 5HP at 480V — vertical and small stationary.
• 18A IEC contactorUp to 7.5HP at 480V — mid-size compactors.
• 25A IEC contactorUp to 10HP at 480V — most common compactor size.
• 32A IEC contactorUp to 15HP at 480V — self-contained and heavy-duty.
• 40A IEC contactorUp to 20HP at 480V — heavy industrial.
• Thermal overload relaysAdjustable current settings matched to motor FLA.